Virgo is the 6th sign of the zodiac; the sun passes through this constellation
from late september to the end of october. It is the second largest
constellation in the sky (the largest is Hydra).
The most outstanding Virgo Supercluster of galaxies is located on the
northern border of Virgo reaching into the neighbouring constellation of
Coma Berenices. The
brightest galaxies can be located with small telescopes as faintly glowing
patches of light. This supercluster is about 65 million lightyears away.
(Because its lying half in Coma Berenices it is often referred as
Virgo-Coma Supercluster.)

Stars and other objects

In a distance of 260 lightyears lies the leading star, alpha Vir,
Spica (meaning the ear of wheat), a blue-white star of 1.0 mag.
The fact that in its neighborhood nearly no other bright stars are found gives
it an additional brilliance in the sky.Gamma Vir consists of two yellow-white, nearly equal stars in
brightness: one with 3.6 mag, the other with 3.7 mag. With a small telescope
(about 50mm aperture) the two components can be resolved. The stars revolve
around one another with a period of 177.75 years. As seen from Earth they are
currently closing together. By the year 2000 AD it will require telescopes with
an aperture of 100mm to split them. They will reach their closest point
together (also mark: as seen from Earth!) in 2007 AD. At this time it will be
impossible for amateur telescopes to resolve the components.
In small telescopes the pair of 4th mag and 9th mag stars of theta Vir
can be viewed.
Also with small telescopes tau Vir can be split in its 4th mag star with
the unrelated 9th mag star.S Vir is a long-period variable of a terrific red color. Its brightness
varies with a period of 377 days during which it falls down from 6th mag to
13th mag. This star is an interesting telescopic object.
Early 1997 a supernova of mag 13.5 has been reported
(IAU circular
6552). SN1997X flashed up in NGC4691 (RA = 12h 48m 14.28s, DECL =
-3 19'58".5).
As noted above there are lots of galaxies in this constellation; most of them
belonging to the Virgo-Supercluster. One exception is the famous
Sombrero Galaxy,
M 104. It lies on the border to
Corvus. Its highly irregular
shape reminds in some ways on a sombrero.
All other galaxies are assiciated with the Supercluster. Most famous is the
giant galaxy M 87 in the center of the
cluster. Scientists believe that a black hole dwells in the center of
M 87. This galaxy is also known for its strong radio source
Virgo A.
A nice pair for observing are the 9th mag elliptical galaxies
M 84 and
M 86.
For detailed information about M 49,
M 58, M 59,
M 60, M 61,
M 89 and
M 90 (as well as of the other
galaxies) please refer to the Messier database.
Three meteor showers seem to origin from Virgo: the Eta Virginids,
Theta Virginids and the
Pi Virginids. Observations
showed a durartion for the Eta Virginids from February, 24th, to March,
27th. There seems to be no specific maximum for this weak shower. The Theta
Virginids last from March, 10th, to April, 21st. Although this isn't a
strong shower, either, a maximum occurs around March, 20th. The strongest
shower of these three with an hourly rate from 3-5 meteors are the Pi
Virginids. The duration of this shower extends from Februrary, 13th, to
April, 8th. Detailes information about these meteor showers can be found in
the database of Gary Kronk.

Mythological Background:

In various legends Virgo represents the goddess of justice or the goddess of the
harvest.